Folding card-table.



R. D. STAOKPOLE. FOLDING CARD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JULYSl, 1009.

Patented June 6, 1911.

11. D. STACKPOLE. FOLDING GARD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909.

Patented June 6, 191 1.

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- RALPH DOW STACKPOLE, F CANTON, OHIO.

FOLDING CARD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Application filed July 31, 1909. Serial No. 510,597.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH D. STACKPOLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Folding Card-Table, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to improvements in folding tables.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction offolding tables, and to provide a simple and inexpensive folding cardtable, adapted to be easily and compactly folded, and capable of beingreadily unfolded and arranged for use without stooping or opening thelegs by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table of this character,equipped with a spring adapted to hold the legs in their separatedposit-ion, while the table is in use, and capable also of retaining theparts in their folded position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consist-s in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a reverse plan view of a folding cardtable, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, the legs being folded together preparatory to turning upthe top into a vertical position. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the table,illustrating the arrange-- ment of the parts when the same arecompletely folded. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 1-t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalView on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The table comprises in its construct-ion a cloth covered table 1,composed of a plurality of boards 2, 8 and 4 and provided on its lowerface with marginal cleats 5, which reinforce the top of the table andconnect the boards or leaves 2, 3 and 4. The top of the table, however,may be constructed in any other preferred manner, and may have a smoothpollshed upper surface if desired. Hinged to the lower face of the topof the table is a supporting bar 6, arranged transversely with relationto the boards or leaves 2, 3 and 1, and connected at one of its sideedges with each of the said boards or leaves 2, 3 and by hinges 7,whereby the hinged leg supporting bar or member serves to assist insecuring the parts of the top of the table together. A foldable legsupporting bar or member 8 is centrally connected with the hinged bar ormember 6 by a pivot 9, and it is adapted to be arranged either in aposition substantially at right angles to the bar 6, as illustrated inFig. l of the drawings, or to be turned longitudinally of the said bar,as shown in Fig. 2. Legs 10 and 11 are connected to the bars or members6 and 8 at the ends thereof. The hinged bar 6 is equipped at oppositesides of its center with longitudinally disposed inwardly taperedmembers 12, consisting of bars or pieces suitably secured to the bar 6and having their inner side edges arranged in spaced planes to permitthe pivoted bar 8 to fold beneath the bar 6. The inner ends of themembers 12 form stops for limiting the swing of the pivoted bar 8, andthe side faces of the said members 12 also form stops for limiting theswing of the bar 8 in the closing movement thereof. The top of the tableis provided on its lower face with reversely arranged stops 13,consisting of strips or pieces, enlarged at one end to form shoulders14, which are arranged in the path of the pivoted bar 8. The top of thetable is also preferably provided beyond the stops 14: with blocks 15against which the terminals of the bar 8 bear. These blocks 15 formspacing pieces and solidly support the top of the table at the ends ofthe bar 8.

The legs of the table are maintained separated by a coiled spring 16when the table is in use. One end of the spring 16 is connected with thebar 8 by an eye 17, or other suitablemeans located eccentrically of thebar 8 at one side of the pivot point, and the spring extends to theopposite end of the hinged bar 6, being connected with the outer end ofthe adjacent fixed member 12 by eyes 18 and 19. The terminal portion 20of the coiled spring is extended laterally and is connected with the topof the table at a point beyond the hinged edge of the bar 6 by an eye21. By this arrangement the spring 16 operates to maintain the pivotedleg carrying bar 8 in engagement with the stops of the top of the table,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the legs ofthe table are folded and the top turned up to the position illustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings, the terminal portion of the spring willmaintain the parts in their folded position. For convenience ofillustration the legs are shown in substantially a horizontal positionin Fig. 3 of the drawings, but in practice the legs will form a supportfor the table, when the same is either folded orv unfolded. Instead ofextending the outer terminal of the spring laterally of the table forsecuring the parts in their folded position, a latch, or other suitablefastening means may be employed for this purpose.

The lower portions of the legs 10 and 11 of the table are preferablyconnected by bars or braces 22 and 23, pivoted together at the center bya bolt 24, or other suitable fastening means. The top of the table isalso provided at its lower face with a cleat 25, arranged transverselywith relation to the boards 2, 3 and 4t, and located at the free sideedge of the supporting bar 6 when the table is arranged for use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding table comprising a top, a bar hinged to the top, a foldablebar pivoted to the hinged bar, legs connected with the said bars, and aspring connected with the bars and arranged to hold the legs in theirseparated position, said spring being provided with an extensionconnected with the top of the table and arranged to hold the parts intheir folded position.

2. A folding table comprising a top, a bar hinged at one edge to the topand supporting the same and adapted to permit the top to be arrangedeither in a vertical or horizontal position, a pivoted bar carried bythe hinged bar and adapted to be arranged either longitudinally of thesame or at an angle thereto, legs carried by the said bars, and acontinuous coiled spring connected with the bar and arranged to hold thelegs separated hinged at one edge to the top, a foldable bar pivotedcentrally to the hinged bar at a point intermediate of the ends thereof,legs connected with both of said bars, and means for holding the legs intheir folded and separated positions, said means including a springconnection extending from one end of the hinged bar along the same tothe pivoted bar and connected with the latter at one side of its pivotand also extending across the end of the hinged bar and connected to ithe table top beyond the hinged edge of the said hinged bar. a

5. A foldable table comprising a top, a

bar hinged at one edge to the top, a foldable v7 bar pivoted centrallyto the hinged bar at a point intermediate of theends thereof, legsconnected with both of said bars, and a single continuous coiled springconnected at an intermediate point with the hinged bar at one endthereof and having one portion extending along the same to and connectedwith the pivoted bar at one side of its pivot for holding the legs intheir open or separated positions, the other portion of the spring beingextended across and bearing against the end of the hinged bar andconnected to the table top at a point beyond the hinged edge of the saidhinged bar.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH DOW STAOKPOLE.

lVitnesses:

D. K. BUsH, JOHN NooNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

